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Atheist

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
I respect the beliefs of Atheists. I just have a question. Do they think the universe is finite? Thanks

The universe has been measured to be infinite to within 5 decimal places. However, the BB indicates it (our universe) has existed for a finite time.

This to me means the universe is finite with the potential to inflate into infinity. Assuming of course it does not die of one of several possible cold ends

And its not really a question for atheists, many dont know much, if anything about cosmology.


P.S. welcome to RF, enjoy a cake or two while waiting for the staff canteen to open
french-bakery.jpg
 

siti

Well-Known Member
The universe has been measured to be infinite to within 5 decimal places.
What? I'm sorry but you seem to have nested non-sequiturs here - how can something that is "infinite" be "measured" and what on earth does "infinite to within 5 decimal places" mean? I am not following any of that sentence at all.

I respect the beliefs of Atheists. I just have a question. Do they think the universe is finite? Thanks
I'm not really an atheist (I don't suppose), but I think the only honest answer to that question is nobody really knows whether the universe is finite or infinite - how would the answer relate to atheism?
 

Valjean

Veteran Member
Premium Member
I respect the beliefs of Atheists. I just have a question. Do they think the universe is finite? Thanks
Beliefs of atheists? What beliefs do atheists have?
Asking about atheist cosmological beliefs is like asking the cosmological beliefs of disbelievers in unicorns.
Atheists, as a group, have no beliefs.
 

Polymath257

Think & Care
Staff member
Premium Member
I respect the beliefs of Atheists. I just have a question. Do they think the universe is finite? Thanks

That has yet to be determined. The current evidence is that the universe is 'flat', which is often thought to imply that it is infinite, although that is not necessarily the case.

At this point, my bet is that it is infinite, but the evidence is not fully in yet.

And, like others have pointed out, this isn't a question of atheism vs theism. It is simply a question of science.
 

Polymath257

Think & Care
Staff member
Premium Member
The universe has been measured to be infinite to within 5 decimal places. However, the BB indicates it (our universe) has existed for a finite time.

It has been measured to be *flat* to within 5 decimal places (meaning the curvature is very close to 0). While many people (even physicists) think that implies it is infinite, that is not necessarily true.

This to me means the universe is finite with the potential to inflate into infinity. Assuming of course it does not die of one of several possible cold ends

The usual models imply that a universe that is ever infinite will always be so. One that is finite will remain so.
 

Milton Platt

Well-Known Member
I respect the beliefs of Atheists. I just have a question. Do they think the universe is finite? Thanks

You would have to ask individual atheists. there is no atheist bible which dictates what their opinion has to be on highly speculative subjects. My own answer (and the answer by many atheists, I would guess) is, "I don't know".
I can speculate, if you wish....but it is speculation.
If the universe began at a finite point in time and is expanding from that point, then it logically follows that it would have an outer boundary. Not being a cosmologist or physicist, I could not speculate what such a boundary would look like. If the edge of the universe is the edge of space, then what would the absence of space be like? Bends the mind a little. There are several competing hypotheses about how the universe began, and how it might relate to the overall cosmos, which may contain an almost infinite number of universes. But as I say, those are not to be classified as beliefs, just interesting though experiments and hypotheses.
 

nPeace

Veteran Member
That has yet to be determined. The current evidence is that the universe is 'flat', which is often thought to imply that it is infinite, although that is not necessarily the case.

At this point, my bet is that it is infinite, but the evidence is not fully in yet.

And, like others have pointed out, this isn't a question of atheism vs theism. It is simply a question of science.
I'm just wondering. How would one know if the universe is infinite?
Or do you mean, it could be assumed to be?

Edit
@Polymath257 never mind, I see you answered in your second post ... if the curvature is 0.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
I respect the beliefs of Atheists. I just have a question. Do they think the universe is finite? Thanks
If you mean the universe you see today will stay and remain the same , then no, the universe is not finite.
 

Regiomontanus

Ματαιοδοξία ματαιοδοξιών! Όλα είναι ματαιοδοξία.
The universe has been measured to be infinite to within 5 decimal places. However, the BB indicates it (our universe) has existed for a finite time.

This to me means the universe is finite with the potential to inflate into infinity. Assuming of course it does not die of one of several possible cold ends

And its not really a question for atheists, many dont know much, if anything about cosmology.


P.S. welcome to RF, enjoy a cake or two while waiting for the staff canteen to open
View attachment 33154


"Inflate into infinity"?

You mean "never stops expanding"? That certainly seems to be the way things are going.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
What? I'm sorry but you seem to have nested non-sequiturs here - how can something that is "infinite" be "measured" and what on earth does "infinite to within 5 decimal places" mean? I am not following any of that sentence at all.

I'm not really an atheist (I don't suppose), but I think the only honest answer to that question is nobody really knows whether the universe is finite or infinite - how would the answer relate to atheism?


The universe is measured to be flat, infinite, if convex or concave it would eventually return on itself

Measurement is simple geometry, the angles between two points on the CMB and earth.

https___blogs-images.forbes.com_startswithabang_files_2017_10_1-zfW9pFGmmSWZTTX2L-Gxzw.jpg

Of course the universe may begin to show curvature above 5 decimal places. Who knows, but as it stands it is flat and hence infinite.

And that is an honest answer

And as i stated

And its not really a question for atheists, many dont know much, if anything about cosmology.

Nuff said
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
It has been measured to be *flat* to within 5 decimal places (meaning the curvature is very close to 0). While many people (even physicists) think that implies it is infinite, that is not necessarily true.



The usual models imply that a universe that is ever infinite will always be so. One that is finite will remain so.

I know it's later, but see my post #16...does that help?
 

Polymath257

Think & Care
Staff member
Premium Member
I know it's later, but see my post #16...does that help?

My basic point is a mathematical one: that a 'flat' space does not necessarily imply an infinite space. This is a subtle point often missed by physicists. But, for example, a three dimensional version of a torus (a bagel shape) can be 'flat' in the sense of no curvature, but still finite in extent.

NB: there is even a finite, negative curvature, three manifold.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
My basic point is a mathematical one: that a 'flat' space does not necessarily imply an infinite space. This is a subtle point often missed by physicists. But, for example, a three dimensional version of a torus (a bagel shape) can be 'flat' in the sense of no curvature, but still finite in extent.

NB: there is even a finite, negative curvature, three manifold.


You lost me on flat torus
 
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